Category: home security system cameras

A good video security system will protect you and your property in Lubbock, Texas, so selecting a system that meets your needs is important. A video security system will alert you when someone tries to intrude on your property and will protect you and your home. Using video surveillance is a great way to capture evidence in case someone commits a criminal act.

There are many reasons to invest in a video security system, but you must determine what your needs are before purchasing a system. You can determine where to place cameras on your Lubbock property, consider what video quality you need, and decide where you will place the recording equipment. Finally, determine whether you need a monitored video security system.

Determine where to place video security cameras on your property

The first thought many people consider before getting a video security system is how many cameras are needed. However, it is best to determine where cameras will be placed before deciding how many are needed. Consider where criminals would most likely be entering your home in Lubbock, Texas. Doors, windows, gates, and garage doors are all likely entry points. Some of these entry points are better for criminals because they are hidden from neighbors’ site lines or the road.

Visualizing where you want security cameras is a good way to get started. Before you purchase a video security system, you should create a plan about where the cameras will go and what direction they will be facing. A sketch of your Lubbock property will help you lay this plan out and possibly help you identify areas that need coverage that you didn’t consider before. The sketch becomes your working guide in directing the system installation.

Video security cameras can be hidden or placed in visible positions around your home. Many Lubbock homeowners use both hidden and visible cameras to get the best security coverage.

Hidden cameras are great for capturing what is going on around your property, without anyone being aware of the surveillance. Hidden video cameras are good for monitoring the activities of employees such as housekeepers or nannies.

Visible cameras are great for deterring criminal activities. Burglars and other criminals depend on stealth to commit their crimes. Criminals are less likely to approach a property that has visible security cameras that are ready to capture their activities.

Consider what video quality you need from a video security system

The quality of video you get from a particular camera depends on how many frames per second (fps) it captures. You can get cameras that capture anywhere from 8 fps to 30 fps. For most residential video security systems, 15 fps will provide adequate security by capturing enough detail to identify a criminal.

Another factor in video quality is how well cameras capture details at night. Some video security cameras only work well in moderate to high light levels. If you need to capture video during the night, you may want a camera that captures infrared light. You can determine how well a camera captures footage at night by checking the lux rating. A lower lux rating will indicate that the camera is better for capturing night footage.

Decide where you will keep the video security recording equipment

You will need DVRs to capture what your security cameras are seeing. The equipment needs to be in a secure area that is hard for most people to access. In a home, this area might be in a secured room or closet. The recording equipment can also be secured in a DVR lock box.

The DVR may need to be located close to the network router. The recording equipment should also have an Uninterruptable Power Source (UPS) to protect against power outages and power surges.
Decide if you need a monitored video security system

A video security system is only one part of securing your home in Lubbock, Texas. Consider what would happen if a criminal decided to enter your home when you are not there. Video cameras will capture a person entering the home, but will not alert anyone to the activities going on.

The best solution is to install a full security system that includes video surveillance. These systems come with monitoring services. If someone tries to break into your home, an alarm will go off and an alert will go to the monitoring service. The monitoring can call the police and alert you immediately to what is going on in your home.

Adding a video security system to your home in Lubbock, Texas is a good investment into your home and family’s safety. 1st Alarm can help you select a video security system that meets your needs. Call us today at 1(800) 276-5559 for more information or send us an email with your questions and concerns. You can also get a quote for a security system. We have locations in the following Texas cities: Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo.

When considering installing a video surveillance system in your home, it can be easy to get caught up in the number of available options. You can end up spending thousands of dollars on a state-of-the-art system, but do you need all available options or a basic system? Two of the most important things to consider are your options for video surveillance cameras and how you will capture the camera’s feed.

Considering options for video surveillance cameras

Video surveillance is what allows you to see what is going on around your home, even when you are not there. Cameras come with a number of options and upgrades that can enhance the details of what you can see.

Video quality is one important factor to consider when choosing a camera for your video surveillance system. Surveillance cameras don’t take the same quality video that you see on television or at the movies. A typical camera used for home security captures between 8 and 15 frames per second (fps). Casinos and police video surveillance systems use cameras that capture 30 fps. There is no need to choose cameras with the highest fps rate on the market. A camera with a 15 fps rate will capture enough detail to identify most people who come within its range.

Do you need movement capabilities like tilt, zoom, or panning for your surveillance cameras? When you add movement to a camera, you are adding a lot of cost as well. Most home security cameras are fixed in one position, pointing at a specific view (front door, driveway, back door, etc.). In most cases, you are not going to be actively monitoring the surveillance camera. Not being at home to monitor the camera defeats the purpose of being able to actively move and adjust the camera’s angle.

Consider if you would like your cameras to see clearly at night. Intruders often use the cover of darkness to mask their approach, so having cameras equipped with some form of night vision can be useful. Infrared cameras use LEDs to create the infrared light the camera can see.

You can also consider whether you would like color or black and white camera footage. Having color cameras in a home security system may seem logical. However, color footage can actually be a detriment. Color cameras do not get the best resolution in low light conditions, while black and white cameras have good resolution in low light. In addition, color cameras are more expensive than black and white cameras.

Capturing the video surveillance camera feed

Besides cameras, you will need a device that captures what the cameras are seeing. In the past, capturing video surveillance was done with a VCR and an endless amount of video tape. Today, DVRs are the standard recording devices for video surveillance systems.

DVRs connect to cameras using cables or through a wireless connection. A DVR can only handle a certain number of cameras or wireless channels. Most DVRs can handle four or eight channels, so if your home has four cameras, you can use a single four-channel DVR. If you have five or more cameras, you will need to choose whether to use a single eight-channel DVR or two four-channel DVRs.

You also need to consider how much storage a DVR has. An older DVR might offer 30 gigabytes that can capture 30 hours of black and white footage. Modern DVRs have 500 gigabytes (0.5 terabyte) and are considered sufficient for video surveillance systems that monitor 24/7. Of course, you can add more storage space if needed, but that is an additional cost to your video surveillance system.

The best way to address your home’s security needs is to have a professional assess your situation and provide recommendations. The experts at 1st Alarm can help you choose a home security system or video surveillance system for your home. Call us today at 1(800) 276-5559 or send us an email with your questions and concerns or to get a quote. We provide services throughout West Texas and the Texas Panhandle, with locations in Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo.

There is a misconception that home alarm systems are not kid friendly. Many years ago, home security systems were often too complex for children to arm or disarm, making it very easy for them to trigger the alarm. This vulnerability made many parents hesitant to add a security system to their homes, even when their children were home alone. Today’s technological advances in home alarm systems have made them very kid-friendly. These advanced alarm systems offer kid friendly security, as well as other benefits to parents other than protection from intruders.

Home alarm systems offer kid friendly security

Many households in Lubbock, Texas have kids who are home alone on occasion. The kids get out of school before a parent gets off from work. Maybe a child does not require a babysitter, but the parents need reassurance that their child is safe. Another instance in which children are more secure with a security system is when teenagers need to stay home while their parents are away.

Modern home alarm systems offer protection to children who are home alone in Lubbock Texas. Instead of requiring a child to run to the alarm pad to enter a disarming code, they can use a keychain pad. The keychain pad drastically reduces the chances of false alarms and is more kid friendly. Door and window sensors can send an automatic notification if someone tries to get in and smoke detectors can alert the child if a fire breaks out. Cameras offer a way to view entry ways, the backyard, or the pool, without ever leaving the home.

Having a security system in place is beneficial for both parents and their kids. Parents get peace of mind knowing that their kids are safe at home. The monitoring service is just an alarm away if a problem occurs, which reassures children that they are safe until their parents get home.

Home alarm systems offer more to parents than protection from intruders

Besides protecting your kids when they are home alone, alarm systems offer many more benefits to parents. Using interior cameras tied to the alarm system, and viewable online, a parent can monitor when a child enters or exits the property in Lubbock, Texas. Video monitoring is one way to unobtrusively ensure that a kid is where he or she is supposed to be at the right time.

Home alarm systems offer the child a way to call for emergency services in Lubbock. Accidents can happen at any time, including sudden illnesses. Being able to contact the monitoring service via the alarm system means the kids can get emergency help as quickly as possible. Home alarm systems can be set up to monitor for carbon dioxide, which protects the child from dangers that cannot be seen.

Protect your kids with a kid-friendly home alarm system. The security experts at 1st Alarm can help you set-up a security system that will protect your kids, yourself, and emergencies. You can call us at 1-800-276-5559 or send us an email with your questions or concerns, or to get a price quote. We provide alarm services throughout West Texas and the Texas Panhandle, with locations in Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo.